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ok, so i just landed the foot in the door job i've been dying for--client services at Sony NYC. i want to be an assistant engineer. what next? what skills to you need to be up the level of assistant in a big league studio? help, please, cause i have no idea.

and as an aside, i feel really guilty admitting that the system of a down tune "chop suey" is really pretty neat.

thanks in advance
--owen

Comments

KurtFoster Sat, 10/19/2002 - 09:09

Owen,
Good for you! You probably won't get too close to any engineering at first. You will most likely be doing what your job title says; assisting client needs. Coffee, tea, sodas, run for food, those kinds of things, Keep yourself clean and presentable. Bathe, brush your teeth and use deodorant. Dress appropriately. (I'm sorry to even have to say this to you but you would be amazed how many interns have showed up at my studio looking funky and smelling bad. In the confines of a control room, bad breath and body odor is intolerable) Remain cheerful no matter how rude someone may be to you. Personal charm and charisma go a long way in this business. People skills are a necessity at this point of your career. If you are asked to perform some type of tasks related to audio engineering you need to be able to jump in and do it without any hesitation. Be careful however and don't get in over your head. I would say you will at least need to know in advance how to align and calibrate analog multitrack and 2 track machines. Study up on microphone applications and techniques. Good soldering skills could help also. Technical know how is always a plus. If an engineer knows he can count on you, no matter what to help solve a problem, that will help you advance through the ranks... Good Luck, Fats
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The absence of frequencies above 20 kHz result in subliminal frustration and restlessness." Rupert Neve

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